Officials want buildings secure but not prison-like

FREMONT - School and safety officials met Monday to discuss building safety and other topics as the Fremont City Schools district moves forward on plans to build four new elementary buildings and a new high school.

Among the key topics discussed was classroom safety, specifically mechanisms that lock doors in the event of an active shooter situation.

"It's a damn shame we have to even consider it," Fremont Fire Chief Dave Foos said. "Whatever we choose, I want it to be universal throughout all the new buildings."

Officials supported an attachment to the bottom of the classroom door that had a mechanism that could be manually released and dropped into a slot in the floor that would lock a door down.

Other options include a flat device that would slide under a door and out into the hallway to block the door jambs, and another device that would bolt on either side of the door with a cross beam that has a claw attachment that locks a door handle into place.

Fremont Police Capt. Ty Conger suggested the school use a device that is easy to install, like the mechanism that drops into a slot into the floor, because when people are in a rush, or nervous, the less they have to do or think about, the better.

"When these people are in the school, they want an easy target, they want to be able to kick a door in and shoot," Conger said. "These (floor locks) aren't an eyesore and they are easy."

Fremont City Schools Superintendent Jon Detwiler said the goal is still to make an inviting school that students, staff and parents want to attend.

"It's a risk and reward balance, because Ty Conger said it best when he said, 'We can make these buildings a maximum security prison, but no one wants to go to school in a prison,'" Detwiler said. "We just want to make sure whatever we use, that we have the right people with the ability to unlock those doors."

Faith Perales, project manager with SSOE Inc., the arhitectural firm that is designing the elementary buildings, said the final designs will be finalized in October, with site work beginning in the fall.

"We are going to be moving dirt in the fall and then start construction next spring," Perales said.

Prior to final designs being submitted, Detwiler said the school will continue having meetings with school, law enforcement, rescue personnel and the public to ensure the new facilities meet not only needs of a 21st century school building, but are safe and inviting to the public.

In addition to locking classroom doors, Conger pointed out that entrance and window design could play a large role in keeping students and staff safe.

Detwiler said Conger suggested a multi-faceted entrance where a guest at the school could be let in through one entrance before being buzzed in by school officials.

"It just gives us more time to look at the situation," Detwiler said.

To ensure the school does not look like a prison, Detwiler said design plans could include windows that are either smaller in overall size, or have smaller window panes that are too small for a person to break through and enter the school.

"We may even have them higher off the ground, but we still want to be able to look outside," Detwiler said.

While safety has been a primary concern during many of the meetings already held, Detwiler said the second biggest concern in designing new schools is the traffic flow to and from the buildings.

"We are always looking into traffic safety, and how parents are coming in and out of the parking lot," he said.

Early designs for elementary buildings have facilities located toward the back of the properties, but Detwiler said it will be imperative that traffic can flow in and out of the lots while meeting engineering codes.